Literacy in the 90'sThe Role of SIL

Cost and Cost Effectiveness: Can We Afford Universal Literacy?

Evaluating
the cost effectiveness of a literacy effort is very difficult. The Experimental
World Literacy Program (EWLP) reported costs per literate ranging from
$32 (U.S. dollars) in Tanzania to $332 in Iran [Gillette
202]. A program in which SIL participated in the Philippines reported
a cost per literate of $71.94 (U.S. dollars) including direct project
costs as well as the estimated value of in-kind support from participating
volunteer agencies [Walter 34].

The research and development costs of initiating a literacy program
for a previously unwritten language are major, a rough estimate being
$150,000 to $200,000 dollars. Clearly, a poor nation having 50 languages
within its borders must view such costs as prohibitive.

Considered from the perspective of cost-per-literate, a country having
five million citizens who are illiterate faces a potential expenditure
of up to 1,500 million dollars (using the EWLP figures) just to attain
basic universal literacy, to say nothing of additional literature, schools,
vocational training, follow-up courses, etc.

But, in the case of literacy, cost cannot be counted merely in financial
terms. One must compare the cost of achieving a given rate of literacy
with the cost to individuals, communities, and nations of a large illiterate
population. What about the cost of malnourished children, of unproductive
labor, of non-competitive businesses, of high attrition rates in existing
schools, of a discouraged and lethargic populace? If we could count these
costs, we might find that literacy, although initially expensive, is,
indeed, a bargain!

Non-formal literacy in Ghana

With limited budgets and inadequate technology, it is important to make
use of every resource available. NGO's
(non-government organizations) and volunteer organizations can substantially
reduce the actual cost of literacy programs from 25 to 60 percent making
such programs more viable for emerging nations.

As a volunteer organization interested in lesser known languages, SIL
specialists are available to do linguistic research and to help with literacy
programs - a contribution SIL is happy to make in its goal of serving
the minority peoples of the world.